There are many reasons why you may need to get rid of a mattress, such as buying a new mattress or moving home. Being quite large and bulky items, they can be more difficult to dispose of easily.
There are many solutions to this depending on your specific preferences. In this article, we will be discussing the best ways to dispose of a mattress, from recycling it to hiring a house clearance company to remove it for you.
When Should You Consider Throwing Away Your Mattress?
A mattress typically has a lifespan of around 7-10 years. After this time, you should consider purchasing a replacement to ensure your quality of sleep isn’t affected. Older mattresses can become uncomfortable and cause issues with your back and posture if used over a prolonged period.
The mattress can be damaged, lumpy or even have some of the springs poking through to the surface over time. They can be indented from sleeping in one position for too long and older mattresses tend to be grimy and stained. A new mattress will ensure you have an improved quality of sleep and will improve your overall comfort levels.
If you have purchased a new mattress, many retailers will take your old mattress and dispose of it for you when your new one is delivered. While this is useful, retailers and mattress companies will charge you for this. On average, this will cost around £31*. John Lewis, Benson For Beds and Marks & Spencer offer mattress removal services.
* Data taken from Mattress Online, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis.
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1. Recycle Your Mattress
Where possible, you should recycle your mattress rather than discarding. This can be done at a local recycling centre. The Gov.UK website has a list of recycling collection centres in your local area.
The majority of people will be unable to dispose of a mattress themselves due to its bulky nature and size. While a single mattress may fit in a car, a king-sized or double mattress won’t. It’s useful to hire the help of a man and van company to help you with your move. This is one of the best options to consider because it isn’t too expensive.
On average, man and van services will cost between £25-£50 per hour depending on the company and how long the mattress removal takes.
What Part of the Mattress Can Be Recycled?
Most raw materials from the mattress can be recycled given they are still in great condition. This includes:
- Wadding (the material inside the mattress)
- Metal springs
- Mattress cover
- Foam
For more information read: Man and Van Prices
2. Sell Your Mattress
If you are getting rid of a new mattress or one still in great condition, you can opt to sell it. That way the mattress won’t be wasted and you can benefit from the money made from this. The mattress must be in good and usable condition. Potential buyers won’t want to purchase a low-quality mattress.
There are several ways you can sell a mattress, including websites like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and eBay. You will want to be specific in your mattress advert and make any defects or issues clear.
The more high-quality photographs you have, the better chances you have of the mattress selling. Once sold, use a plastic mattress bag to ensure it remains undamaged until the buyer receives it.
When selling a mattress you should agree with the buyer on how they will receive the mattress. Some may offer to pick up the mattress, while others won’t have the facilities to do this. You can hire man and van services to deliver the mattress to the buyer. This cost of delivery can be agreed with the buyer and included in the price.
It's also useful to ask family and friends if they need a new mattress or know of anyone who may be interested in purchasing it. This is one of the easiest ways to get rid of a mattress and you can organise a collection or delivery at a time that is suitable for you.
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3. Donate Your Mattress
Donating your mattress is an eco-friendly option. It allows the mattress to be used by someone in need and stops more mattresses from ending up in landfill. You can opt to give away your mattress to family or friends if you know of anyone in need of one.
Many local charities will accept mattress donations. This includes The British Heart Foundation, Salvation Army and St David’s Hospice Care. The British Red Cross are unable to accept mattress donations for hygiene reasons. Often homeless shelters may benefit from mattress donations.
These charities can sometimes organise picking up your items free of charge. If they cannot do this, you must arrange to have the mattress transported. You can use the Furniture Donation Network to donate unwanted furniture across the UK too.
You can place your mattress on websites such as Gumtree and Freecycle for people to collect. If possible, the fire label on the mattress needs to be attached and intact. This is to ensure it is safe and fit for reuse.
4. Council Mattress Disposal Service
The vast majority of general household waste collections won’t provide mattress collection services with your household rubbish. Your local council can provide bulky waste collection services if you cannot transport items to a local recycling centre or landfill.
While some councils will collect a mattress for free, most councils will charge you. You will need to apply for a special collection for mattresses. The council will then provide you with a collection date. This service helps to prevent fly-tipping and councils will aim to recycle mattresses where possible. The costs of mattress removals vary significantly across the UK
Costs and charges per item will vary depending on your local council. Here is a list of different charges for mattress collection within England and Wales:
| Local Council | Cost |
|---|---|
Cardiff | £12.50 (plus £5 booking fee) |
London | £41 for up to 5 items |
Leeds | £20 for up to 5 items (first collection is free) |
Manchester | £29 for up to 3 items (first collection is free) |
Plymouth | £29 for up to 3 items |
* Data taken from local council websites
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5. Take it to the Tip
If you have no other available option, you can opt to take the mattress to a local tip. This isn’t the most recommended option as it means the mattress will be sent to landfill and won’t be recycled.
According to the TRF Group, over 8.5 million mattresses are sent to landfill each year. This isn’t the most responsible waste management technique. Recycling and reusing is encouraged where possible.
A tip may be your only option if recycling options aren’t available or if there is a bedbug infestation. If the mattress is in good condition it should be recycled.
Finding a House Clearance Company
If you are looking to get rid of your old bed, and other unwanted household furniture, it’s useful to hire the assistance of a house clearance company. Here at Compare My Move, we can connect you with up to 6 trusted and verified companies in the local area.
All our house clearance partners are fully insured with Public Liability insurance. They also hold a valid Waste Carrier Licence. This means your unwanted goods will always be disposed of safely and legally. Fill out our online form to save up to 70% on your house clearance costs.
